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Many of our visitors have asked for restaurant recommendations when visiting the collection. We have assembled several lists to reflect varied tastes, budgets and locations. Our first group of restaurants is within walking distance of the collection and located in the Design District. The next two groups are in the Upper East Side and Midtown neighborhoods.  We have tried to include our best choices at varied prices and styles of cuisine. We welcome your comments after your visit.

Painters learn to add a small amount of grey to a green apple to emphasize the shaded areas.  Cooks learn to add a pinch of a favorite spice to enhance flavor. Whenever you come across still life paintings depicting vegetables, fruits or bread, you are seeing the results of a long tradition of food in art. The Greeks, Romans and Egyptians prided themselves on realistic works of  food in their art.  Archaeologists have found drawings and carvings of food on the walls of ancient tombs, and the Chinese painted outdoor banquets hosted by the Emperor on long scrolls.

In the 17<sup>th</sup> century, still life art flourished in Holland. Dutch painters favored painting lavish banquets for the homes of the affluent bourgeois patrons. These paintings reflected their new status and position in society. Modern still life, such as Cezanne’s famous “Apples and Oranges” are a good example of stylized representations of food in art. Art and food, two engrossing and pleasurable subjects will continue to have many creative connections.  From the hearty meals devoured by peasants on a Bruegel canvas, to works by Rembrandt, Monet and Warhol, food tells a story, illuminates who we are, and provides a focal point for our lives.  Enjoy our local restaurants.

Carole Guest

Carole Guest divides her time between New York City, South Hampton and Miami where she resides during the Winter Season. She is an accomplished chef.  As a busy New Yorker and food and wine connoisseur she and her husband enjoy restaurant dining.  During the summers in South Hampton she takes advantage of the local organic produce from numerous farm stands.  No cuisine is too daunting and each recipe is a new challenge

This passion for food, combined with her love of art is the reason why she created this site for the de la Cruz collection. We hope that Carole's insight will provide an enriched experience for those who love good dining.